Angela - Sources of Plastic

Due to the weather, I've been postponing my project pertaining to whether FL's east coast has more plastic debris than the west coast, if any. This weekend I plan on braving the Florida heat and visiting two to three beaches between Port Canaveral and Florida's northern border. 

The following is what I'll be looking for:

1. Plastic debris that has been crushed and broken up by the sun and waves, if found on the east coast a possible source could be the North Atlantic garbage patch.

2. Pea size plastic resin pellets which would be easily visible during a visual survey, source of this debris is from loss during transportation of pellets to factories as well as during the manufacturing process itself. Recycle Plastics, LLC, located near Tampa, could be a possible source of such resin pellets if any found in that area.

 

3. Microbeads, made of polyethylene plastic, are used as exfoliates in face wash and body soaps. These plastic beads can be smaller than one millimeter, thus I will be examining sediment samples in the lab for this source of plastic debris.

Just so you know who the writing guy is...

Should you not remember me,
here I be!
In touch with every writing need,
Attempting to help you succeed,
Just don't ask for help with poetry...

I'm not very good at that.

Anyway, see my previous post for something a bit more substantial.

From the Writing Guy

Greetings all! As of my most recent conversation with your professor, it looks like I will be posting to your blog! In any case, you probably all remember me as the guy with the guitar that came to your class last week (Joshua Cruz). I'll be posting to your blog on a weekly basis, just giving some general writing advice. If all goes according to plan, I'll also be contacting you throughout the week via email to give some feedback that's specific to you and your own writing.

In addition to all of that, I'm here for whatever writing help you're looking for. If it's a quick question, feel free to shoot an email to <cruzjo@daytonastate.edu>. If it's something that seems more involved--for instance, you want someone to look over an entire paper--set up an appointment at the Writing Center, which you can do by calling (386) 506-3059 (it doesn't have to be an appointment with me; everyone who works here is pretty good).

So, without drawing this out any more than I already have, let me give you...

THE FIRST RESPONSE TO YOUR BLOGGING ENDEAVORS

What you're all doing seems very interesting. Unfortunately, I am out of the loop in terms of oceanography and scientific method. One major obstacle for scientific writers is to explain to plebeians such as myself 1) what it is that they're doing and 2) why they're doing.

With that in mind, provide a little context for what you're doing. What scientific question are you pursuing? I know that you're collecting water samples--to what end?

A nice way to potentially start these blog posts is by "establishing a context" for the readers, letting them know what questions you are answering or what assignments you might be fulfilling (little tip: this also makes it easy for your professor to determine if you understand what you're learning in class/why you're learning it). Finally, this move makes it easier for outsiders such as myself to get caught up.

Now, the big thing here is that contextual establishment (that intro paragraph that tells us the what and why of what you're doing) isn't something you should just be thinking about for this class; it also transfers into papers you will be writing for research as you go on to attain higher degrees. No researcher would write up a report that said "we collected water samples from two different sources" without first discussing why that activity was happening. The idea there is that other people will be interested in the study, and might want to follow the same kind of methodology. This means people not intimately connected to the study may be reading your write-up. They'll want to be on the same page as you, and that means you need to let them know what page you're on. Admittedly, you are all posting on a blog, and all of you are part of a closely knit research community, but this idea of establishing a context for a larger audience is still far from superfluous (especially now that you have me lurking in the depths of the blog! Muahahaha!).

Michelle LaComb: Sediment Sample Collection

I went out on Wednesday and collected my sediment samples near the same lake in Central Park that I collected my water samples from. I first looked for an area that had no vegetation and then scooped up 2 cups with my measuring cup and put them into the bag I labeled as my control. I then looked for an area that had between 50-75% vegetation. It took me a while to find a suitable area but when I did I scooped up 2 cups from there and put them in the remaining bag. My samples were wet so I spread them out on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil and placed them in my oven at 150° for a few hours. My samples are still a bit damp so I intend on putting them back into the over today for a few hours.

I took some photos of this entire process but for some reason my laptop will not detect my camera's memory card. When I figure out what is wrong I will edit the photos into my post.

As for my project, I unfortunately did not make any progress this week. This upcoming week I plan on going out and trying to spot some manatees though!

Brittnie - Sediment Samples

    This morning at 11:45 a.m., I went to the beach by the Sunglow Pier where I got my two sediment samples. I took my samples by the dunes, where the elevation is about 1. 049 meters or 3.44 feet high. My first sediment sample has 0 to 25 percent of vegetation, I would estimate that my plant took about 7 percent of the meter squared area. While my control sediment sample had no vegetation.

    Before leaving I gather my materials: measuring cup, tape measure, markers (or in my case chopsticks), two labeled plastic bags, my field notebook and pencil.

    When I found a meter squared area with 0 to 25 percent vegetation, I put my first marker next to the plant and started measuring meters, marking each corner around the plant. Then I took my measuring cup and scraped the top layer of the surface, making sure to get two full cups and put them in my plastic bag, labeled “BH/Sunglow Pier Dunes/S”. After that I measured a meter squared area with no vegetation, scraped two cups of sediment off the surface, and then put it into my plastic bag labeled “BH/Sunglow Pier Dunes/C”.

    The sediment is sand size and well sorted, and I’m pretty sure that the one plant in my area, is Salt Grass or Distichlis Spicata, which has high salt tolerance and needs moist soil. That would be the reason why it’s so close to the beach.

Ryan Dail - Sediment Sampling/Project Update

           

                   Sediment sample number two
                 area

 

Sediment sample number one
area
 

Today I went out to the Halifax river to start my sediment sampling. I kayaked out to a few islands north of the Granada bridge where I knew had a lot of vegetation. I collected my first sample in an area with no vegetation as the control sample. I then went around to the another island where there was a great amount of vegetation. I proceeded to mark off my one by one meter area of 25-50% vegetation coverage and scooped my sample. After gathering my samples I noticed that sample one is dry and sample two is wet.

As far as my research project goes, I am going to call tomorrow to set up a meeting with a researcher from NOAA ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ) that I have previously spoken with. I will be able to post a follow up with new information on my project within a few days.



Jeffrey-Field and Lab

Lets talk about Water sampling. Last week I collected my sample near the Ormond Boat House on the Halifax River. I used an extension pole to reach out beyond the oyster bed.

Halifax shoreline

The water appeared somewhat clear.
It was quite turbid as I would soon find out.












Back at the Lab we were given instruction on measuring salinity, we used a refractometer.
My sample showed to be 13ppt. Definitely brackish water.

Dr. Woodall instructing

                     














We also learned how to use a turbidimeter. Turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). It tells us how cloudy the water is due to suspended solids.



We also learned how to  filter the particles out of our sample using this setup.                                                  

I am looking forward to collecting the last piece

Filtering Apparatus       

of data in lab this week and comparing it to the groups results. Stay tuned....                                                                
                                   

Deanna - Water, Seds, and Lab

Water Sampling
 The water sample I gathered was from a fresh water pond on a private property.

Nice pond and dock.

I laid down on the dock and hung over the edge to fill my bottles. And yes, I rinsed them out first and kept them cool.

Scarlett and I collecting samples.

 The water seemed pretty clear; however, it looked like weak tea when it was in a clear bottle. It did rain earlier in the day, but I don't think it really affected the sample. Then it was off to the lab...

TSS Lab
This was a fun and interesting lab! We got to gather our samples and then test them!

Dr. Woodall giving a lesson on proper use of the refractometer.

 
The first test I ran was a salinity test. As expected, the salinity was zero in my sample. I determined this by using a portable refractometer. It was quite simple actually. Just put a few drops of the sample on a clean, dry stage, close the top, look through the eye piece, and there inside is a line with a number and that is the salinity.

The second test was to determine how much suspended solids where in the sample. I got to use a HACH  2100N Turbidimeter to test my sample. Actually, I got to test my sample 5 times. Then took the 3 middle readings, (not then highest or the lowest reading), and found the average of the three readings were 5.75 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). This number is part of an equation that will tell what the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) (mg/L) are in my sample.

The third part of the lab was to filter the sample by pouring it through a  47 mm 1.5 um Whatman microfiber filter (a filter built into a glass fitting) and catch the sediment for a mass. It wasn't actually just pouring it over a filter, it was much more involved than that.

Filtration set-up.

As you can see by the picture above, the whole set up was somewhat involved. We used a vacuum to help pull the sample through two filters. The Whatman and another filter that was used to collect the sediments in our samples. The dried sediments will be weighed and go into the equation to figure TSS in the sample.

Sediment gathering
I went a little north of the Granada beach ramp to collect my sediment sample. I found an area that had approximately 25% vegetation coverage in the middle of the sand dune where it leveled off a bit before becoming a dune again.

1x1 m sample area

 I scooped up 2 cups of the top one inch of sediments near the plants within a one by one meter area. It was primarily grasses on the plot. Oh, and the stinging nettle that got me was there too! OUCH!! It was easy to grab the control sample, since I had minimal vegetation.

 
I will be drying it out for class so the sieving can begin. Shake , shake, shake...and shake some more!

Grace sediment sampling & SCUBA

In my field work of obtaining samples of sediment near to 25%-50% vegetation coverage I traveled to Lake Winona. Lake Winona was a generally still body of water when I was taking samples. I took my samples from sediment that was near to plants in the water, thus my sediment samples were wet.

Control 0% vegetation

Sample 25%-50% vegetation

Sample 25%-50% same as above

The lake is fed by a spring and is also tested a few times per month and treated, so it is deemed the safest body of freshwater to swim in if you want to avoid amoeba, but gators on the other hand! (;

I am also awaiting the time that I can obtain my SCUBA diving certification, so I can dive near to where lion fish have claimed as their habitat. I hope to prove by photograph that they truly are an invasive species. This will be evident if little to no other fish inhabit the area because they have been eaten by the lion fish that most other organisms find unappealing.

Seaira- Sediment Sampling

Location: Lake Colby-Alderman Park Cassadaga, Fl.
Latitude: 28.9641534
Longitude: -81.2325607
Elevation: 26 meters above sea level
Weather conditions: 81 F, 97% cloud cover, 2.2mph wind speed, 50% chance thunderstorms.
Sample was taken on the shore of a small fresh water lake, inevitably the sample was wet from the recent rain. I observed several small fish, bivalves, and a few local birds: cranes, ducks, and crows. The vegetation surrounding consisted of pine trees, saw palmettos, fennel, and small grass and moss species.

To begin my sampling procedure I scouted the outer banks of the lake for an area with no vegetation, so I could take my control sample.
I began by measuring out a one meter by one meter space on the ground and marking with 4 posts.
I then took two cup scoops of the top layer of sediment, I placed the sediment in my appropriately labeled bags.

For my next sediment sample I selected a one by one meter square space with a vegetation percentage of about 75%. I again took two cup scoops of the top layer of sediments. The plants in my sample area were shallow rooted grasses.

As far as my continuation of my research project, I have been studying about different species of sea grasses and kelp particularly in the Canaveral National Seashore. I also took a class with a man named Andy Firk who is a native Florida plant species expert. I followed him through a typical coastal environment for almost two hours and recorded different native and invasive species in my field notebook. He gave me some ideas as to specific species that may be good to press and test salinity.

Rebecca - Sediment Sampling and Sea Cows

Sea Cows

I used our sediment sampling project as an excuse to finally go to Tomoka State Park. We drove all the way to the back of the park and found a quiet area with no one else around. I might have disregarded a few signs about not collecting anything from the park, it's for science so that's allowed! I was telling my daughter that sometimes you can see sea cows, better know as manatees, and dolphins in the river. So what do we see as we approached the river? Five adorable manatees! I wanted to stay and watch them but it was very windy and started to sprinkle so I had to get on with the sediment sampling.

Vegetation Sample Site

The area by the river was covered in biogenous material. Biogenous refers to the remains of something that was once living, such as shells and coral. My control sample was mostly broken up pieces of shells. I found a few patches nearby that had the 75% to100% vegetation coverage I was required to get. It was difficult to get in there with my scoop and only sample from the surface. I got as much as I could before it started raining. Looking at my samples, it's hard to tell the difference in the sediment size but the vegetation sample is much darker then the control. It will be interesting to see the results of this experiment!

Angela - Dry Sediment Sample

Sample Area 1

I've been waiting for Deltona to dry up but it just keeps on raining, so this morning I retrieved two moist samples from two corners of my yard. Corner 1, like the majority of my yard, is fully exposed to sun, but unlike the rest of my yard it doesn't seem to want to grow anything no matter how often I throw grass seeds out there. The sample looks a consistent light gray of small particles. 

Sample Area 2

Corner two is a shaded area with 75% coverage of mainly two types of moss-like plants. The area also contained a Crepe Myrtle sapling, probably because there is a Crepe Myrtle growing about seven feet from the area.  Sampling the area was a bit tougher because I kept seeing small worms and what looked like white pill bugs crawling around in the clear measuring cup, which I kept picking out.  The surface sediment of Sample 2 appears to have a similar consistency to Sample 1 but there seems to be a lot of decomposed material in the mix, more than likely from the Camphor tree that is shading this area. 

Moss-type plants and Crepe Myrtle Sapling(on Right)

I spread my samples out on two different aluminum covered trays, and have been baking them since 2:50pm at 225°F (aprox. 105°C), which at first made the whole house smell like old wet gym shoes, but currently, at almost 6pm, the smell has dissipated (or my nostrils have become used to the smell). I'll continue baking the samples until about 9pm and possibly bake them a second time tomorrow afternoon.

 Something I learned because of this sediment sampling exercise is that my samples for my project need to be dry. The sample I collected at Caspersen beach over two weeks ago has been sitting sealed up in the back of my car. My original plan was to collect the majority of samples and then over the course of two to three weeks comb through all of them in the lab and inspect them under a microscope; now I realize I need to let them dry.

Shannon- Sediment Sampling

Hi everyone!
     I am getting pretty excited about my project! I have a meeting with Mr. Chad Truxall at the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna on Monday. We are going to take a look at his facility and check out some possible locations for the artificial mangrove root system I am hoping to get my hands on!

I live quite close to the St. Johns River so this is where i chose to take my water sample and sediment samples. They were taken from the Lemon Bluff boat ramp in Osteen. 

Below there is a picture of the area I chose to collect the sediment around vegetation. The water depth was about 4 inches.

About 60% vegetation (Hyacinth)

Me collecting the sediment.

In this picture is the site where there was no vegetation. You may notice the green leaves and debris floating on the water. This was due to an air boat that approached the boat ramp while I was taking my sample. I noted this my field notebook , I think it may have resuspended some of the sediment off the river bed. The water depth at this site was about 14 inches.